NATIVE SOVEREIGNTY IN THE AMERICAS

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NATIVE SOVEREIGNTY IN THE AMERICAS
Dr. Zoltan Grossman Faculty member in
Geography and Native American Studies, The
Evergreen State College, Olympia,
Washingtonhttp//academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossma
z
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Canadian Treaties1,200 tiny reserves today
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xxxxx
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Inuit (Eskimo) territory of Nunavut
Inuit fully control 18 of new territory What
will happen to Dené region of NWT?
1999
Canada
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Near-Secession of Quebec, 1995
50.6
49.4
Nunavik
Inuit
Most French-speakers (blue) for independence from
Canada English-speakers and immigrants voted
No First nations against dams, etc. Cree
Inuit vote to stay Canada
Nitassinan
Eeyou Astchee
Innu
Cree
English
Mohawk
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Hydropower dams on Quebec Cree lands
Huge diversions of rivers Hunting lands
flooded Mercury contamination of
fish Shorelines inaccessible NY, VT consumers
objected, delayed
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Trappings of full sovereignty
Some tribes, individuals did not accept the U.S.
Citizenship Act or Canadian citizenship. Indige
nous passports have been honored by some
countries.
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Greenland

• Eskimo (Inuit)
• territory of Denmark
• Achieved Home Rule
• as Kalaallit Nunaat, 1981
• Separated from EU
• minority favors independence

Kalaallit Nunaat
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Kuna Yala (Panama)

• Kuna Indians along San Blas Islands coast
• Autonomy since 1920s
• Strengthened since 1989 U.S. invasion

• Kuna Yala

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Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region, Nicaragua

• Misikto, Sumu and
• Rama Indians
• War with Sandinista
• government, 1980s
• won autonomy
• Conflicts with right-wing
• govts, miners, 1990s

R.A.A.N.
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Zapatista revolt in Mexico
Began in Chiapas (Mayan state) when NAFTA
implemented, January 1994
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GuatemalaMayan majority
Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Peace Prize recipient,
1992

• CIA overthrows civilian government, 1954
• Civil war between government leftist rebels,
  1961-96
• Military death squads genocide vs. 200,000
  Indigenous

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Venezuela

• President Hugo Chavez
• backed by many Indigenous
• Oil, timber, mining industries
• trample Amazon Natives
• New promises of land returns,
• representation in Senate

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Brazilian Amazon

• Native peoples minority
• concentrated in \rainforest
• Lands coveted for gold,
• timber, cattle. Wild West
• Violence against Indigenous
• Indian movement has little support
• Lands safety valve for urban poor
• Yanomami Reservation
• often invaded for resources

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Civil War in Colombia

• Civil war between
• rightist government/
• paramilitaries and
• leftist rebels
• Indigenous peoples caught
• in middle both sides want
• resources, oppose land rights

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Uwa vs. Oxy in Colombia

• Uwa oppose oil drilling
• by Occidental Oil
• Support protests in L.A.
• Tribal members repressed
• by military, also rebels
• 3 Native supporters killed
• in 1999

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Oil in Ecuador

• Ecuador 2nd largest
• S. America producer
• 70 of exports
• Drilling in
• Amazon rainforest

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Opposition to oil companies

• Construction of roads, pipelines on Indian lands
• Displacement of Indians,
• deforestation
• Oil leaks into rivers
• larger than Valdez spill

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Ecuador Native occupations


Texaco withdrew 1992, Arco met demands
Lawsuit against Texaco in U.S. courts, 1999
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Ecuador coups

• 2001 junta includes
• indigenous leader
• New president ousted 2005

Flag of the Indigenous Alliance, with Native
leader Rumiñahui.
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Water War in Bolivia
Cochabamba residents protesting Bechtel
privatization of municipal water system, 1999
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Bolivian election

• President Evo Morales
• victory symbolizes majority
• indigenous rule, 2005
• Quechua and Aymara,
• including miners
• Conflict with U.S. over
• coca eradication
• Nationalized gas industry
• activists in charge of water
• and mining ministries